Cyber, Drones & National Security

Prediction: Planned JSF cuts will be used by critics to call for its cancellation

Just noticed this report from Military.com, noting that the Air Force is planning to cut its F-35 acquisition because of cost increases:

The Air Force plans to reduce its expected purchase of Joint Strike Fighters by 72 aircraft in the serviceÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s proposed six-year spending plan due to skyrocketing costs in the Lightning II program, defense officials tell Inside the Air Force.Ã‚Â {Munoz and Bennet, "Air Force Plans JSF Cuts", 2006}

Since I keep saying that I should get into the prediction business, this seems like as good an issue as any to start with.Ã‚Â Seems a pretty safe bet that critics and those reformers that are still around will use this as a classic we-told-you-so moment and call for the F-35’s cancellation.Ã‚Â Of course, the same folks are already against the F-22.Ã‚Â Most likely, they will advance an older-is-better argument where "better" is defined as "cheaper" and "simpler", as the basis for arguing that we should continue to rely on the fighters we have.